Sheet feeder

Abstract

In the context of a sheet feeder comprising a stack carrying table able to be moved by a lifting device and having front and side abutments, precise positioning of the stack is facilitated inasfar as the stack carrying table is composed of a supporting table adapted to be connected with a lifting member of the lifting device and of a loading stage supported on the carrying table for free movement in its own plane in substantially all directions within the plane. The sheet feeder furthermore has a clamping device which is able to detachably clamp the stage to the supporting table.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sheet feeder comprising a stack carrying table able to be moved by a lifting device and having front and side abutments, said stack carrying table being composed of a supporting table adapted to be connected with a lifting member of the lifting device and of a loading stage supported on the carrying table for free movement in its own plane in substantially all directions within said plane, said sheet feeder furthermore comprising a clamping device which is able to detachably clamp said stage to said supporting table. 
     
     
       2. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stage is in the form of a platform. 
     
     
       3. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carrying table is in the form of a platform. 
     
     
       4. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stage and said carrying table are in the form of solid slabs. 
     
     
       5. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein, at least in a direction athwart a median longitudinal plane of the feeder, the stage is shorter than the supporting table. 
     
     
       6. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clamping device comprises a ledge projecting past on a rear edge of the supporting table, at least one eccentric member mounted rotatably on the ledge, and a clamping pad underlapping the stage on which it is mounted. 
     
     
       7. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 6 comprising pedal means for operation of each eccentric member. 
     
     
       8. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 1 comprising a cage and balls mounted therein, said cage being in the form of a planar body so that said balls movingly support said stage on said supporting table. 
     
     
       9. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 8 wherein said cage is in the form of resin slab having openings therein for said balls. 
     
     
       10. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 1 comprising abutment means for limiting motion of the stage in relation to the supporting table. 
     
     
       11. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 10 wherein said abutment means includes pins respectively fitting into recesses with a large area. 
     
     
       12. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 9 wherein said slab forming said cage is provided with at least two recesses for respective abutment pins and said supporting table and the stages are each provided with at least one abutment pin. 
     
     
       13. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 12 wherein said recesses associated with said abutment pins have a rectangular form. 
     
     
       14. The sheet feeder as claimed in claim 13 wherein said recesses associated with said abutment pins have a square form.